. >>> president obama and speaker john boehner talk on the phone tonight for the first time in a week but they ended their conversation with no break in the deadlock over how to avoid the rapidly approaching fiscal cliff. the president's secretary said the administration is absolutely 3r-7d to go over the cliff if republicans don't agree to tax rate increases. speaker boehner says it is now up to the president to spell out a plan that will pass. the president told business leaders that ending fights over extending the country's debt ceiling have to be a part of this deal. now part of our deal here at 9news is having gary nurenberg follow these fiscal cliff developments. he is here with tonight's wrap- up. >> reporter: an knit tax you are right, the president and the speaker got on the phone but as if to signal the lack of progress the house got out of town. the republican controlled house left town wednesday saying it has nothing to do. >> we need a response from the white house. we can't sit here and negotiate with ourselves. >> reporter: the president's treasury secretary said there